Aquino impunity policy breeds violence against women

Activists and delegates of Gabriela condemned President Aquino and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their anti-women policies in Iloilo back in October during the 11th congress of Gabriela (photo courtesy of Gabriela).

GABRIELA joined global protests observing the International Day To End Impunity on the third anniversary today of the massacre of 58 women and men in Maguindanao, saying that the government of President Benigno Aquino has left a trail of blood and violence against women and children under his much touted counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan.

“Instead of giving justice to the victims of impunity under the Arroyo presidency, Aquino has continued the unabated reign of terror of the military, warlords, and death squads who have also been committing grave crimes of rape and sexual abuse against women and girls,” said GABRIELA Secretary General Joms Salvador.

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Salvador cited the increasing appeals received by GABRIELA from families in different militarized areas for rescues, psychosocial therapy and legal assistance to women and girl victims of rapes, kidnaps, and assassinations both attempted and accomplished. The cases include a 15-year old girl gone mentally deranged after being gang-raped by soldiers inside a military camp in Tanay, Rizal, and another case involving a CAFGU recruit who raped and consequently impregnated a minor in Lobo, Batangas.

“Instead of providing assistance to access justice mechanisms, state machineries including local courts either by their inaction or pushing the process along in favor of the accused military perpetrators worsened the effects of the acts of impunity. Terrorized into withdrawing the cases they filed against military perpetrators, these victims and their families indeed suffer the same fate met by the widows and orphans of the Ampatuan massacre, who are now receiving death threats and have to hide or walk in fear of their lives,” Salvador added.

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Local chapters of GABRIELA around the country are also holding anti-impunity protests to anticipate the observance of the annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women or IDEVAW on November 25.